Humidifying apparatus



May 26, 1936.

B.-MICHALSK| 4 5 HUMIDIFYING\ APPARATUS I Filed May 15, 1955 2 SheetS--Sheet 2 F\ m f ATTORNEY v Patented May 26, 1936 V v A A UITE STATHUMIDIEYING APPARATUS Bruno Michalski, Paramus, N. J., assignor ofonehalf to Robert W. Beardslee, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application May 15, 1935, Serial No. 21,532

Claims. (01. 237-78) This invention relates to humidifying appara- Theseand other features and advantages of the tus employing steam as ahumidifying agent and invention will be described in connection with thehas for its object to provide a humidifying araccompanying drawings, inwhich: rangement in combination with a steam heating Fig. l is anelevation showing the invention 5 unit or radiator wherebyhumidification of the applied to a common system with hand controlled 5surrounding atmosphere can be effected regardinlet valve and automaticoutlet valve;

less of whether the heating unit is under a pres- Fig. 2 is a furthermodification of Fig. 1 wheresure or a vacuum. in the humidifying steamis taken from a radiator An important feature of this invention for allsection; domestic, commercial and industrial purposes re- Fig. 3 is aview similar to Fig. 1 wherein the 10 sides in the provision of meansbeyond the huinlet valve is thermostatically controlled; midifying steamconnection for retarding supply Fig. 4 is a detail on an enlarged scaleshowing of steam to the heating unit or radiator so that the restrictedpassage to the radiator employed sufiicient pressure is maintained inthe section in Figs. 1 and 3;

where the humidifying connection is located to Fig. 5 shows amodification of the invention 15 permit steam to flow to the atmospherethrough 4 employing a valve in place of the restrictor of thehumidifying line. Preferably such retarding Fig. 4;

means comprises a suitable restriction placed Fig. 6 is a furthermodification wherein the either in the steam pipe between the usualsteam steam supply enters the top of the radiator incontrol valvesupplying the heating unit and the stead of the bottom; 20 heating unititself, or in an early section of said Fig. 7 is a detail sectional viewsimilar to Fig. 4

heating unit. The line supplying steam to the but with means foradjusting the restrictor; humidifying outlet may either be tapped ofithe Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the section of the linebetween the control valve and restricted opening adjacent the bottom ofthe the restriction or just ahead of the steam control steam supplypassage to the radiator; 25

valve, according to conditions. The effective Fig. 9 is an end View ofFig. 8; and area of the opening in the restriction is deter- Fig. 10 isa view similar to Fig. 9 but with a mined so as to maintain such apressure above the -modified form of restriction. atmosphere to behumidified as to cause a flow of i represents a steam radiator ofconventional steam through the humidifying line to that attype of one ormore columns havinga steam sup- 30 mosphere. The effective area of thepassage ply 2, controlled by hand valve 3 and return pipe through therestriction can be fixed at a size suit- A controlled by automatic valve5 of convenable for the conditions under which it is installed; tionaltype actuated by a bellows or otherwise, or it can be provided withmeans for adjusting the opening when the radiator is cold to permitwithefiective area of steam flow. drawal of air and water ofcondensation, and 35 According to the invention the flow of steam toclosing whenthe radiator is hot to prevent waste the heating unit may becontrolled by a manually of steam, operated valve or by any suitabletype of auto- In Fig. 1, 6 is a humidifying pipe tapped into maticallyor thermostatically controlled valve. the steam supply of the radiatorjust beyond In any of the methods of steam heat control the valve 3 andcontaining a hand cock I, check 40 hum di y appa y av its supp y f valve8 opening outwardly and humidifying dishumidifying steam regulatedeither by means of charge pipe 9 which may be perforated or otheramanually Operated v by means of an autowise arranged as desired. In caseof objectionmatic or humidistatic valve, or by means of a able drip, theend of pipe 9 can b provided with fixed opening or an adjustableopening. These absorbent material such as asbestos, or such ma- 45 me oSte pp y 15 the ating unit and terial can be put below the pipe 9 on thefloor t0 t di y apparatus ay be u d in any or on a pad on the radiatorso as to be heated desired combination. thereby. Such devices are wellknown and are Another important feature of the invention renot a part ofthis invention,

sides in the provision of means for preventing the As shown in detail inFig. 4, the steam flow to 50 admission of air to the heating systemthrough the heating unit such as radiator l is through a the humidifyingapparatus when the steam is restricted opening it) which has the effectof turned off from the unit to which the humidifymaintaining such asteam pressure in this section ing apparatus is attached or when it isturned 01f where the humidifying line is tapped off as to from theheating system itself. permit of steam flowing through the humidifying55 line to the atmosphere. The check valve 8 prevents back flow of airor steam into the system through pipe 6 when valve 5 is open and thereis vacuum in pipe 6.

In Fig. 2 the humidifying pipe I2 is tapped off the first radiatorsection, and in order to enable it to function a disc l3 with arestricted opening is placed between the first radiator section and thenext. In this method the system functions as previously described.

In Fig. 3 is shown a thermostatically controlled inlet valve l4 insteadof hand valve 3. I5 is a bulb containing a volatile liquid or gasconnected by tubing Hi to the valve I4. When the atmosphere surroundingthe bulb and tubing is heated the volatile liquid or gas is also heatedand expands, reducing the opening of valve I4, the latter opening to agreater extent when the bulb cools ofi'.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of the invention in which a hand valve l9replaces the restricted opening H.) of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 6 the steam supply enters the topof the radiator instead of thebottom; otherwise the system is similar to Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 showsv a modification of Fig. 4 wherein the restricted openingH! is adjustable by means of a needle or screw valve 20.

The modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar to Fig. 4 except thatthe restricted opening i8 is adjacent the bottom of the steam supplypassage to the radiator. In Fig. 10 the arrangement is the same exceptthat the restriction Ill is of substantially elliptical shape. Therestriction can be made with one or more openings, and the openings canbe located as desired to meet conditions.

It will be seen from the above that the function of the restrictor onthe inlet side of the radiator is to retard the flow of steam throughthe radiator so as to build up a pressure positive to the atmosphere inthe humidifying steam discharge means and thereby permit discharge ofsteam through the humidifying outlet, thus humidifying while theradiator is heating up. It is well understood that with proper humiditya room is more healthful and also that with a lower temperature a roomis equally or more comfortable. Where the system is equipped withthermostatic or automatic control of the inlet valve or steam supply,the invention is especially useful, and by equipping the humidifyingsteam line with a humidity controlled valve or humidistat bothtemperature and humidity control are automatically maintained.

It will be evident that various ,changes may be made in the details ofconstruction and operation disclosed herein without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination in a heating system including a steam supply, aheating unit and a control valve therefor and a vacuum return, meansbeyond said valve for discharging humidifying steam to the atmosphere,and means beyond the humidifying steam connection for retarding the flowof steam through said unit whereby a pressure positive to the atmosphereis built up in said discharge means.

2. In combination in a heating system including a steam supply, aheating unit and a control valve therefor and a vacuum return, meansbetween said valve and said heating unit for discharging humidifyingsteam to the atmosphere, means beyond the humidifying steam connectionfor retarding supply of steam to said unit whereby a pressure positiveto the atmosphere is built up in said discharge means, and means in thehumidifying steam passage preventing backflow of air into the system.

3. In combination in a heating system including a steam supply, an inletvalve, and heating unit, means between the valve and the heating unitfor discharging humidifying steam to the atmosphere, and a restrictedorifice beyond the humidifying steam connection retarding supply ofsteam to said unit whereby a pressure positive to the atmosphere isbuilt up in said discharge means.

4. In combination in a heating system including a steam supply, aheating unit and a control valve therefor, means between said valve andsaid heating unit for discharging humidifying steam to the atmosphere,and means including a restricted passage beyond the humidifying steamconnection and beyond said control valve for retarding supply of steamto said unit whereby a pressure positive to the atmosphere is built upin said discharge means.

5. In combination in a heating system including a steam supply, a.heating unit and a control valve therefor, means beyond said valve fordischarging humidifying steam to the atmosphere, means including arestricted passage beyond the humidifying steam, connection forretarding the flow of steam through said unit whereby pressure positiveto the atmosphere is built up in said discharge means, andmeans foradjusting the restriction of said passage.

BRUNO MICHALSKI.

